Mold compound ejection tip for dentistry

Abstract

An intra-oral molding compound ejection tip is provided to provide a substantially uniform expanding solid angle of the mixed molding compound upon molding compound ejection. A prior art intra-oral tip typically includes an ejection orifice defined about an axis parallel to the direction of mold compound ejection. In a preferred embodiment, two cuts are placed in the tip at right angles to one another within the plane of the normal axis of molding compound ejection. Each of these cuts is sized with respect to the ejection orifice to produce a uniformly expanding solid angle of the ejected molding compound. This uniformly expanding solid angle of the ejected molding compound has the property of having higher normal incidence to both preparation and margin to the preparation in teeth having dental surgery.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. In combination with an apparatus for mixing dental molding compound, an ejection tip comprising in combination: 
       an ejection tip for attachment to the apparatus for mixing dental molding compound at one end, having an aperture for ejecting molding compound at the other end, and a conduit within the tip for directing mixed molding compound between the apparatus for mixing dental molding compound and the aperture of the ejection tip; and,  
       a nozzle in the ejection tip at the aperture for ejecting molding compound in a uniformly advancing solid angle in the range of at least one pi steradian.  
     
     
       2. The combination with an apparatus for mixing dental molding compound, including the ejection tip of  claim 1  wherein: 
       the nozzle in the ejection tip at the aperture for ejecting molding compound in a uniformly advancing solid angle in the range of at least two pi steradians.  
     
     
       3. The combination with an apparatus for mixing dental molding compound, including the ejection tip of  claim 2  wherein: 
       the nozzle in the ejection tip that the aperture for ejecting molding compound in a uniformly advancing solid angle exceeds two pi steradians.  
     
     
       4. In combination with an apparatus for mixing dental molding compound, an ejection tip comprising: 
       an ejection tip for attachment to the apparatus for mixing dental molding compound at one end, having an aperture for ejecting molding compound at the other end, and a conduit within the tip for directing mixed molding compound between the apparatus for mixing the dental molding compound and the aperture of the ejection tip, the conduit defining at the aperture of the ejection tip a normal axis of molding compound ejection;  
       at least three slits at approximately equal angular intervals within the sidewalls of the ejection tip adjacent the aperture for ejecting molding compound whereby the at least three slits in combination with the aperture for ejecting molding compound produce a uniformly advancing solid angle of the ejected molding compound.  
     
     
       5. The combination with an apparatus for mixing dental molding compound, the ejection tip according to  claim 4  further comprising: 
       at least four slits at approximately equal angular intervals.  
     
     
       6. A process for applying molding compound to a tooth having undergone dental surgery sufficient to provide the tooth with a preparation, a margin around the preparation, and adjacent mouth structure including adjacent teeth and gums, the process comprising the steps of: 
       providing a tooth with the preparation having a surrounding margin with gum structure adjacent to margin;  
       preparing the tooth with the preparation to receive molding compound;  
       providing an apparatus for mixing dental molding compound including in the ejection tip having attachment to apparatus for mixing the molding compound at one end, an aperture for the ejection of molding compound at the other end, and a conduit between the attachment and aperture for passing mixed molding compound to and out the aperture for the ejection of molding compound;  
       placing a nozzle in the ejection tip at the aperture for ejecting molding compound in a uniformly advancing solid angle in the range of at least one pi steradian; and,  
       moving the nozzle in the ejection tip over the tooth at the preparation and margin while ejecting molding compound to produce wetting of the preparation and margin of the tooth by the molding compound.  
     
     
       7. The process for applying molding compound according to  claim 6  and wherein the step of placing a nozzle in the ejection tip includes providing a nozzle for ejecting molding compound in a uniformly advancing solid angle in the range of at least two pi steradians.